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COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. 



A GARLAND OF VERSE 



BY 

CALLIE MILLER-FREEMAN 







NEW YORK 
THE WRITER'S PRESS 






Copyright, 1915, by 
THE WRITER'S PRESS 



P. 



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f£B I0I9I6 

©JI.A418840 



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3 



TO 

MY LITTLE GIRL 

MAUD POWELL MILLER-FREEMAN 



TO THE ONE WHO HAS BORNE THE SAME 
LOVE IN HER HEART FOR ME 



MY MOTHER 



MY LINES 

GOD grant me grace that I may write 
Good thoughts and sweet and true, 
That some day your dear eyes may read, 
And they may live in you. 

Or to my trusty friend afar 

My lines may message take, 
That gazing on the written page 

Fond memories may awake. 

Then I would help the sad and lone; 

Just little singing songs 
I would send forth, with prayerful thought, 

To lessen, mayhap, wrongs. 

I'll pray for wisdom that I may 
Help those who have not strength, 

With little songs that are not great 
Or famed for any length. 



I WALKED IN MY GARDEN 

I WALKED in my garden at sweet dewy 
morn, 
Where the heart of the rose shed its fra- 
grance so rare ; 
I drank with the flowers the winds floating 
o'er, 
And pondered the lessons of life hidden 
there. 

I had planted and watered and watched day 
by day, 
And each blossom had place in the love 
of my heart, 
God gave these to me that I tended with 
care, 
'Mongst the dear things of life my flow- 
ers had part. 

For they peopled a world all of sunshine 
and love, 
My violets and pansies and sweet helio- 
trope, 
My daisies and lilies and carnations white 
Bore ever a message of love and of hope. 



I gazed deep in the heart of the rose there 
to find 
The soul that held secrets no mortal may 
know; 
And learned that the Maker of all that is 
Good 
Forgets not the hour each blossom shall 
blow. 

Once again in my garden I walked at the 
dawn — 
Lo! roses and lilies and violets were 
dead! 
Oh, bloom they anew in the Garden of 
God? — 
Oh, whence, can you tell me, their fra- 
grance is fled? 



THE RED ROSE AND THE WHITE 

I WOULD not pluck the deep red rose, 
The first to charm my sight, 
But rather I have waited, dear, 
Till I could cull the white. 

For though the red meant happiness, 
The white meant peace I knew ; 

Thorns hedged about the red, red rose, 
The white one wore the dew. 

And so I left the red, red rose, 
The first that charmed my sight, 

And waited till the day was spent 
To bring to you the white. 



MY VIOLIN AND I 

WE are old friends of many years, 
My violin and I ; 
Once on a day I vowed that we 
So far away would fly 

That there would come no other love, 

No thought to separate — 
I had not reckoned in those days 

Upon the tricks of fate; 

For time has brought its changes — 

I know my violin sings 
Far happier for fingers wee 

Oft tugging at its strings ! 



LULLABY 

AWAY, little babe, to the sweet wild- 
wood, 
Away where the violets grow, 
And there we will sing in the grape-vine 
swing, 
So soft and low, oh, ho ; oh, ho ! 
So softly we'll sing, so softly we'll swing, 
To the sweet wildwood we'll go. 

The breeze will tangle your curly hair, 
And the sunshine kiss your lips, 

And the fairies will play with you all day, 
They will dance on your finger-tips. 

They will dance while we sing in the grape- 
vine swing, 
They will dance on your finger-tips. 

Remember, your mother is dreaming, too, 
Of the wild wood's tender glow, 

And there 'mid the trees we will rest at 
ease, 
So away, away let us go. 

So softly we'll sing in the grape-vine swing, 
So softly and sweet, ho, ho! 



10 



Now drop down the curtain of your dear 
eyes, 
We'll gather the fragrant flowers; 
See their beautiful hue, like the eyes of you, 
I'll crown you the queen of their bowers. 
Their queen you will be 'neath the wild- 
wood tree — 
Then it's ho for the land of flowers ! 

Here we are, little babe, in the sweet wild- 
wood, 
Where daisies and daffodils blow, 
Where birds sweetly sing, and the cheer 
they bring 
Will follow us now as we go, 
As we travel along in the land of song 
Where the rippling streamlets flow. 

Away, little babe, you are now asleep, 

And I lay you down — by-low! 
While I lift up my eyes to the clear blue 
skies, 
To the giver of gifts below. 
Then sleep in your nest and sweet be your 
rest, 
While the sun in the West sinks low. 

By-low, by-low, by-low, by-low, 
Sleep, little one ; pretty one, sleep ! 
ii 



TO A VASE OF ROSES 

MY heart is quiet ; my voice is still ; 
I am looking at, oh, such a beauti- 
ful thing! 
I let them speak, for speak they will, 
And I hark the song that their spirits 
sing. 

You brought them and placed them so near 
my hand, 
In a vase with its crystal water clear, 
Their language you knew I would under- 
stand, 
Their song you were sure my soul would 
hear. 

Oh, roses sweet, in the garden bed 

Beside you did weeds so oft upspring? 
Did you bend your beauty, your perfume 
shed, 
That a blessing your presence to them 
might bring? 

In the garden of life we know that none 

May stand in beauty without some touch 
Of the weeds that grow 'neath the glorious 
sun, 
That we only can conquer by loving 
much. 

12 



THOU STAR OF MY SOUL 

THOU star of my soul and my guiding 
star, 
Shouldst thou fall from my sky on a 
cloudy night, 
And leave me here to tread alone, 

Groping in vain for some ray of light, 
Oh, how could I fare through the world 
alone, 
How could I with storm and tempest 
cope ? — 
Ah, leave me not ever, my guiding star, 
Thou luminous thing that men call Hope ! 

Thou star of my soul, let mine eyes see 
clear 
And vision the dawn of a cloudless day, 
When over the earth sweet peace shall 
brood, 
And men like brothers shall walk the 
way! — 

For how can they mount to the heavens 
high, 
And how can they know that God is God, 
Unless they follow the star of the soul 
That lifts man up from the moldering 
sod? 

13 



INTO MY LIFE 

INTO my life came a long sweet day; 
It wakened the hopes that slumbered 
there ; 
It spanned the sky with a rainbow bright, 
And it made of the rose a thing more 
fair. 

And this was the day that you came to me, 

Came with a trust like a thing divine, 
And my heart made room to enshrine its 
god, 
Complete was the hour you called me 
thine. 

Into my life came the sorrowful years, 
But there' at the threshold their hoods 
they doffed, 
For the bitterest cup love sweetened for me, 
And I kissed the rood while its dregs I 
quaffed. 



14 



JESTERS 

THE song that is sung may come from a 
heart, 
That is playing in life its own little part, 
That knows that its mission is smiles and 

not tears, 
And hides from the world its sorrows and 
fears. 

The jest that rings merry may hide the deep 

sigh, 
That the world may not know as it gaily 

goes by 
That the blow that was dealt has found its 

aim true, 
The scar that it made's not for me or for 

you. 

Then hold ye, ye gossips, nor say that he's 

gay, 
Or she has no heart for aught else but to 

play. 
It may come your turn to smile when you'd 

weep; 
Each heart in its depths some secret must 

keep. 



15 



THE ARMS THAT FAILED 

THE arms that failed, that failed me so, 
In my great hour of need, 
Were oh, were oh, such earthly arms, 
So weak and frail indeed ! 

They failed, because I rested there 

Content with earthly gain ; 
And now I look to Thee for strength — 

Those years brought only pain. 

I'll walk no more in earthly ways, 

In ways my feet have trod, 
For, oh, I know the arms that failed 

Have lifted me to God. 



16 



SPAKE MY SOUL 

"QTEP aside," said my Soul to my time- 
^ worn Self, 

" Be still, let me speak, though without 
tongue am I ; 
God gave me a house, and you claim it your 
own; 
You are * master,' you say, till the day 
that you die! 

" But the great ones of earth, I will tell you, 
are those 
Who live by the truth that is drawn from 
above, 
They forget worldly self, and all selfish in- 
tent- 
Make room in my house; I would fill it 
with love ! " 



17 



A WOMAN'S WAY 

A WOMAN'S heart 
And a pure heart, 
A heart of gold had she, 
A heart for love 
And only love 
As true as true could be. 

A woman's song 

From her heart of gold 

Sent a thrill through a heart one day. 

It echoed back 

To her heart of gold, 

And love began that way. 

A woman's face 

With tender light, 

Sweeter than music rare, 

And eyes of blue, 

And soul so true 

All free from worldly care. 

A woman's life 

All just begun 

Crowned true with love and beauty, 

Awoke one day to a sweeter way, 

Found love meant patient duty. 

18 



REMEMBRANCE 

f'TpWAS just a rose you gave to me at 

A parting, 

We stood that evening at the garden gate, 
But now its faded petals, lingering perfume, 

Bring back to me the cruel stab of fate. 

I wonder if the roses still are blowing 
In that old garden with its drooping wil- 
low tree; 
I wonder if the scent of faded roses 
Brings o'er your heart some memory of 
me? 



19 



JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU 

(Song) 

I LOVE you, dear; I love you, just be- 
cause you're you, 
Your gentleness and tenderness, your eyes 

of violet blue. 
My heart is ever singing a song that's sweet 

and true; 
'Tis this, " I love you, love you, just be- 
cause you're you." 

CHORUS 

Just because you're you, dear, that is the 
reason true ; 

None other need I give you; it's just be- 
cause you're you. 

There may be gay and bright ones, but 
faithful hearts are few; 

I know I love you truly, because — you are 
just you. 

I loved the golden tresses that lay upon my 

breast, 
And now I kiss the silver locks, I love them 

none the less ; 
I hear your girlish laughter, and see the 

dimples play; 
I love you just as much, dear, and better 

day by day. 

20 



MY HARP 

THE string of Love and the string of 
Pain 
On the Harp of my Soul did break, 
And though the music comes not again, 
I'll sing on for the gray world's sake. 



F 



FINISHED 

INISHED? Ah, no. God has a future 
use 

For all the toiler spins and weaves, 
The painter's art, the singer's song, 
The binder of the harvest sheaves. 

We may not see today the good we 
wrought, 

Because so well the seed was sown, 
But those who walk the ways we passed 

Our deeds as helpful staves may own. 



21 



A PRAYER 

WHAT step, O Lord, shall I take next 
to meet thine own decree? 
What deed shall I, all willing, do to bless 

humanity ? 
What added pain for me to bear that I may 

show the way 
That leads to perfect faith and trust, unto 
the perfect day ? 

Oh, let my tongue speak out Thy love that 

others, too, may know; 
Lead Thou my feet along the paths where 

Thou wouldst have me go ; 
And should it be the valley, Lord, whose 

shadow is called " death," 
E'en there I will no evil fear; thou'lt keep 

my latest breath. 



22 



MOTHER-CHARGE 

A MOTHER holds within her power 
The greatest gift on earth, 
And she becomes a reigning queen 
The hour that she gives birth. 

A mother moulds the fate of men 

Along the path of years ; 
She can instill within their hearts 

Great hopes or shameful fears. 

A mother's love is pure and true, 
More deep than earth can tell; 

A mother's weak, unknowing heart 
Can cast a soul in hell. 

A mother weaves in daily round 
Sweet blessings for her own ; 

The fruit that's garnered by the years 
Comes from the seed she's sown. 

A mother keeps the wolves of sin 

From gnawing at the gate, 
For ere the little child is grown 

The years tell out his fate. 



23 



O mother, in your hand you hold 
The dawn or doom of men, 

And if you fail to guard the fold 
You're not a mother then! 



SEED AND FLOWER 

INTO the dark the seed must go 
That flowers may bless the earth; 
Into the shadows the soul must go 

E'er it may know rebirth; 
As out of the mould the floweret springs, 
So out of the shadows the soul takes wings, 
And finds its home with supernal things, 
When God shall lift the veil. 



24 



SERVITUDE 

A MOTHER bowed her head, and said 
" How useless, Lord, I know ; 
Take thou these tears of grief and pain 
To crystallize like snow. 

" Nor let them touch the fire of love, 

To fall again like tears, 
Benumb this aching void of pain 

And ever thronging fears. 

" Nor let, O Lord, my love-light dim, 

God-given and divine, 
But clear away the clouded skies 

O'er this weak heart of mine." 

A mother dried her tears and prayed : 

" This servitude to woe 
Remove, dear Lord, and give my heart 

Joy such as angels know." 



25 



COMPENSATION 



CALM thy sad heart and know that God 
is nigh; 
Some cloud will touch the blue of every 

sky; 
The darkest night is followed by the bright- 
est morn; 
From deepest woes the greatest joys are 
born — 
Our rainy days make beautiful the 
flowers. 



PENITENCE 

OLORD, forgive my sinning 
Grant me a new beginning, 
Far from all evil ways. 
Forget my old past's sorrow, 
May time with each tomorrow 
Bring me more perfect days. 



26 



SHADOWS 

ARE the years that are passing but shad- 
ows 
That play on the stern face of Time, 
And what are they writing, as flitting, 
A message forlorn or sublime? 

And why should the years wear but shad- 
ows? 

Can they wreathe not the dial with light ? 
And can not the finger that's tracing 

Draw pictures all rosily bright ? 

'Tis not fair that Time only may gather 
The fragments of myrrh and of rue; 

We've a task; let us give him some blos- 
soms, 
Dear heartsease, all fragrant with dew. 



27 



THE MASTER'S WAY 

THE Master knew I was sad and lone, 
With a life o'erburdened with care; 
He bade my heart be glad as I 
Knelt at His feet in prayer. 

I told Him all, of my soul's deep grief, 

As though He did not know, 
And prayed He'd lift my bitter load, 

For oh! it galled me so! 

But soon I heard the Master's voice, 

It came so small and still ; 
" Rise, child," it said, " for thou art free, 

Do thou the Master's will. 

" Do well thy task, it heavenward leads, 

The way thy Master trod 
Knew toil and pain — He did not shrink — 

The way led straight to God." 



28 



ON MARRIAGE 

GOD'S law doth hold the world in place ; 
God's word no mortal can efface, 
And He hath said: 

" They twain one flesh shall be." 

God's love doth fill two hearts with peace ; 
God's holy plan means no release ; 
He hath declared : 

"They twain one flesh shall be." 

God's heaven oft reaches to the earth, 
God gives two souls one wondrous birth 
When He commands : 

" They twain one flesh shall be." 



29 



THE WOMAN AND THE LILY 

YOU held in your hand a lily, you 
crushed its petals fair, 
Would you crush the soul of a woman if 

you might hold it there? 
You might crush the beauteous lily you 

found on the prairie lone, 
But the woman-soul you could not crush, 
for God keeps that alone. 

Would you break the pearly petals and toss 

them to the wind, 
Where none but the seeing eye of God the 

ruined heap could find? 
The woman-heart you might sear with pain, 

might stifle its every cry, 
Might toss the fragments upon the wind, 

but the record is on high. 



30 



MOTHER 

TIT OTHER, come back to me, Mother, 
-*•▼■■• Years are long and friends are un- 
true, 
In all the wide world — Oh, I know it ! — 
There's no one, dear Mother, like you. 

When the world is unkind then I long so 
To hide in your breast as of old, 

For the warmth of your heart was the 
warmth of my life, 
What matter though others were cold. 

And at night when I kneel at God's foot- 
stool, 

I pray that you still may be near, 
And, feeling that you have not left me, 

I rest and forget every fear. 



31 



WHEN I GO 

DEAR Lord, I would leave something 
when I go, 
It may be an old scrap-book full of thoughts 
That I have garnered from rich poet lore, 
Or it may be a tender love held in a heart 
Of one I have called Friend; it may be just 
A kindly word that I have spoken to a 

saddened soul 
Or some small act of kindness to a needy 

one. 

Whate'er it may be, howe'er so humbly set, 
I would my heritage claim more than this, 
A white and speechless tombstone, cold, 

without 
A touch of that real warmth that counts 
For kindling fires along the march of life. 
Let me leave something that in hearts may 

live, 
When I am called to go. 



32 



